JPH11184649A - Printing system, method and printer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To make it possible to use a low-function printer in the same manner as a high-function printer by a simple and low-cost method. A high-performance printer that can be connected to a network 4 and can understand high-performance languages such as PostScript.
Downstream of 2, low-function printers 3A, 3B,... Which are not network-compatible and do not understand high-function languages are connected via buses and cables to form one printer group. The high-function printer 2 is connected to the low-function printers 3A and 3
The performance of B,... Is checked and stored, and the performance of the entire printer group is notified to the host on the network 4. The printer driver in the host creates and displays a user interface screen based on the notified performance.
When receiving the print job data from the host, the high-performance printer 2 selects a printer suitable for processing the job from the group, and transfers the job data to the selected printer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to digital printers and printer utilization techniques, and more particularly, to the harmonious use of a plurality of printers having different capabilities in terms of language interpretation capability, network communication capability or rendering capability. The present invention relates to a technique for using a printer having a low performance as a high-performance printer, or compensating for a lack of performance among a plurality of printers.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various languages have been developed as languages for describing print commands supplied from a host computer to a printer. Among them, for example, the page description language “PostScript (Po
StScript) "(trademark), which has a very versatile expression ability and can freely express complex graphics that cannot be described in other languages. The use of such a high-performance high-level language makes it possible to print complex graphics beautifully and at high speed. For that purpose, the printer must have a function capable of interpreting and rendering the advanced language. But,
Printers that can interpret high-performance languages such as PostScript are significantly more expensive than printers that can only understand lower-function languages. For this reason, for example, when a plurality of printers are connected and used on a communication network such as a LAN, if all the printers are compatible with a high-functional language, the introduction cost becomes extremely high.

Further, when a plurality of printers are connected to a network, there are the following problems. That is, if different types of printers (for example, a page printer and a serial printer) or a plurality of printers of different manufacturers are prepared, the language that the printer can interpret differs for each printer. Therefore, the user of the host computer has to determine a printer to be used in advance and select a language (actually, a printer driver) suitable for the printer. However, for the user, any printer can be used as long as the print quality is assured, so that various printers can be used in a unified manner without regard to the type of printer or printer driver. Being able is more convenient.

[0004] In a conventional communication network, for example, the Internet, one IP address is usually assigned to one terminal, and communication between network-compatible terminals individually having an IP address and a TCP / IP execution function is performed. Basic of the network.

Therefore, for example, when introducing all the printers in the workplace to the Internet, there are many existing printers which cannot be directly connected to the Internet. Therefore, expensive network adapters have to be introduced to these printers. Must. The economic burden for this is very large. In addition, there are many conventional printers that cannot be made compatible with a network.

If this problem is described in a more generalized expression, conventionally, a plurality of terminals including a network-incompatible terminal and a network-compatible terminal are collectively formed into one group (for example, in a workplace). That is, there is no means provided with a relay function so that the entire group can be introduced into a network.

[0007] By the way, with regard to a relay function in a network, routing (selection of a communication path, conversion processing between adjacent networks, and network processing) for delivering data transferred on the Internet to a target terminal is provided on a conventional line. There is a router that performs a relay operation called an IP address management function). However, since this router merely relays between domains in the Internet, it cannot be a means for solving the problem of wanting to incorporate a group including a non-network-compatible terminal into the network as described above. .

A document written in, for example, HTML provided by a WWW service on the Internet is a compound document in which other types of resources such as voice, moving image, and still image are embedded in text characters. Also, in an electronic mail on the Internet, it is possible to transmit a compound document in which other resources such as a voice, a moving image, and a still image are attached to text characters by MIME. In such a compound document, for example, a character file is in a text format, an HTML format, or a file format unique to an application that created the text file, a still image is in a JPEG format or a GIF format, a moving image is in an MPEG format, and the like. And so on
Multiple types of resources are included in their own file formats.

Conventional printers merely include a renderer (a module for rendering, ie, creating a print image of a document) corresponding to a specific printer control language. Therefore, in a conventional printing system in which a conventional printer is connected to a host computer, when printing a compound document as described above, the host computer interprets the file format of each resource included in the compound document, and prints the document. The data is converted into data expressed in a specific printer control language that can be understood by the printer and sent to the printer. The printer interprets the data expressed in the specific printer control language, creates a print image of the document, and performs printing.

As described above, since the conventional printer can only understand data expressed in a specific printer control language, when printing composite document data, the host computer interprets various file formats included in the composite document. And convert the data to printer control language data. However, in the case of a network compatible printer that can be connected to a network such as the Internet,
Since it has a function of executing a network communication protocol such as CP / IP, it is very convenient if a printer can interpret and print a compound document that can be transmitted by the communication protocol.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a language interpreting ability,
An object of the present invention is to make it possible to more conveniently and economically use a plurality of printers having different performances in terms of a network communication function or a rendering capability.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an economical technique for enabling a poorly performing printer to be used like a good performing printer.

Still another object of the present invention is to enable a plurality of printers having different interpretable languages to be simply and uniformly controlled by one language.

Another object of the present invention is to enable a printer that cannot interpret a high-functional language to be used like a printer that can interpret a high-functional language.

Still another object of the present invention is to make it possible to freely use a plurality of printers in a simple and low-cost manner.

Still another object of the present invention is to enable a single printer driver to perform settings for a plurality of different types of printers.

A still further object of the present invention is to enable one or more devices which are difficult to connect to a network by themselves, for example, one or more printers not compatible with a network, to be connected to a network.

Still another object of the present invention is to enable a network-incompatible printer to be introduced into a network in a simple and low-cost manner.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a printer capable of receiving and printing a compound document including a plurality of resources having different file formats, and an environment substantially enabling the printer. is there.

[0020]

A printing system according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises a first print command written in a first language and a second print command written in another second language. And a at least one printer that receives, interprets, and prints the second print command from the proxy server.

In this system, a printer is connected to the proxy server. The connection form may be one printer for one proxy server, multiple printers for one proxy server, multiple printers for multiple proxy servers, or connection with a dedicated cable. , May be connected via a network. When the proxy server receives a print command in the first language, for example, PostScript,
This is converted into a print command in a second language that can be interpreted by the printer and sent to the printer. The printer interprets the received print command of the second language and performs printing. Thus, even if the printer cannot actually interpret the first language, it looks substantially equivalent to a printer corresponding to the first language when viewed from the outside.

The proxy server may be a printer, which is more preferable.

[0023] A printing method according to a second aspect of the present invention includes a step of converting a first print command written in a first language into a second print command written in another second language. Transferring the converted second print command to a printer capable of interpreting the second language.

[0024] The proxy server according to the third aspect of the present invention comprises:
Command conversion means for converting a first print command written in a first language into a second print command written in another second language, wherein the command conversion means can be connected to at least one printer; Transfer means for transferring the second print command from the means to the connected printer.

[0025] The proxy server according to the fourth aspect of the present invention comprises:
A first status message indicating a printer status written in a second language can be connected to a host device capable of interpreting a first language and a printer capable of interpreting a second language. Conversion means for receiving and converting the first status message into a second status message written in a first language; and transfer means for transferring the second status message from the conversion means to the host device. Have.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer which interprets a first print command written in a first language and performs printing, and converts the first print command into another second language. And a command conversion means for converting the second print command from the command conversion means into a second print command written in the command conversion means. Transfer means for transferring the data to the selected printer.

In a preferred embodiment, the printer of the present invention interprets the first print command to render a primitive raster image, and converts data including the raster image obtained by the rendering into a second language. A second print command is created by incorporating the print command into the format of the print command. Therefore, the printing capability of the first language is utilized for printing by another printer connected to the printer. Therefore, if the first language is a sophisticated language such as Postscript,
Advanced printing results can be obtained by utilizing the high expression ability.

Further, in this embodiment, the printer of the present invention has means for selecting a second language from a plurality of predetermined languages, and another printer is newly connected to this printer. , Is changed or added, the second language is selected according to the connected printer. Therefore, it is possible to surely cause the connected printer to execute printing.

Further, in this embodiment, the printer of the present invention can be connected to a plurality of other printers, selects a printer to execute printing from the plurality of connected printers, and interprets a language which can be interpreted by the selected printer. And the first
Is converted into the print command of the determined language and transferred to the selected printer. To select a printer to execute printing, for example, if the print command specifies a destination printer, the specified printer is selected, or if no destination is specified, the printer is selected from among standby printers. A method such as selecting an appropriate one can be adopted. In any case, since the language corresponding to the selected printer is determined and the command is converted to the language, the selected printer can be reliably printed, and a plurality of printers can be uniformly controlled in the first language. .

In this embodiment, the first language is a high-functional language having a high image expression capability such as PostScript, while the second language is a low-function language having a low image expression capability. Therefore, if there is one high-function language printer, a low-function printer that does not support high-level languages can be connected to the printer to construct a printing system that supports high-function languages.

Further, in this embodiment, the printer of the present invention is provided with selection means for selecting whether to print by itself or to transfer a conversion command to another printer. For example, if the received print command includes the designation of the destination printer, and if the destination printer is itself, prints by itself, while if the destination printer is another printer, it converts to that printer Transfer commands. Alternatively, when the printer of the present invention is a printer dedicated to monochrome printing, if the received print command specifies monochrome printing, print by itself, and if it specifies color, perform other color printing. Choose a printer,
Transfer the conversion command to the printer. In the latter case,
When the printer of the present invention is, for example, a monochrome laser printer compatible with PostScript, by connecting an inexpensive color printer (for example, a color inkjet printer) to the printer, almost the same functions as the color printer compatible with PostScript can be performed at low cost. You can get it.

A printer according to a sixth aspect of the present invention can be connected to a first external device that can interpret a first language and a second external device that can interpret a second language. Converting information written in a first language received from a first external device into information written in a second language,
A first conversion / transfer unit that transfers information written in a second language received from a second external device to information written in a first language and transfers the information to a first external device. And at least one of the second conversion and transfer means for transferring the data to the second conversion and transfer means.

A printer according to a seventh aspect of the present invention can be connected to a host device and another printer, and has a proxy server acting as a proxy for another printer with respect to the host device. .

A local router according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is connectable to a communication network, has a plurality of network addresses indicating a plurality of locations on the network, and has a plurality of network addresses arriving from the network. Network communication means for responding to a communication message addressed to any of the network addresses, and transferring data included in the communication message addressed to any of the plurality of network addresses to a plurality of predetermined destinations Data transfer means for selecting a transfer destination of the data in accordance with the network address of the communication message.

A device (eg, a printer) that is not compatible with a network as a data transfer destination to the local router of the present invention.
Is connected, the local router performs communication processing on the network on behalf of those non-network-compatible devices, and transfers data received from the network to the non-network-compatible devices. From the network side, a non-network-compatible device looks like a network-compatible device. In this way, a non-network-compatible device can be introduced into a network.

A network according to a ninth aspect of the present invention
The printer has the function of the above-mentioned local router, and as at least one of the above-mentioned data transfer destinations,
It has its own print processing means.

A network printer according to a tenth aspect of the present invention can be connected to a communication network and other devices, and has all network addresses assigned to itself and a device group including other devices connected to itself. Responding to a communication from the host on the network including any of the network addresses of the devices belonging to the device group, and relaying communication between the host and a plurality of devices belonging to the device group. Means.

According to the network printers according to the ninth and tenth aspects of the present invention, if another network-incompatible device (for example, a printer) is connected to the network printer, the network printer can operate as its own. Communication with the network, as well as the network for other non-network-compatible devices. Or to Therefore, in addition to this network printer, a non-network-compatible device that cannot be connected to the network alone is taken into the network as a group, and a plurality of devices having a plurality of network addresses even though they are physically one network printer. It can function like a network-enabled device.

A network printer according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention can receive a print request from a host via a communication network, process the received print request in a plurality of modes, and In accordance with this, there is provided means for selecting a mode for processing the print request. According to the network printer, a print request received from a host is transmitted in accordance with the contents of the print request (for example, a network address indicating a destination device of the print request, a port address indicating a destination application of the print request, etc.). Select a processing mode from a plurality of processing modes (for example, select a security level,
Paper size, monochrome printing or color printing, or, when another printer is connected to the network printer, selecting a printer for printing the print request). Therefore, physically 1
Although it is a single network printer, it can function as a plurality of network-ready printers when viewed from the host.

The above-described characteristic function means of the local router and the printer of the present invention can be typically realized by using a computer. A computer program for operating a computer as such a functional unit can be provided to the computer from various media such as a disk storage device, a semiconductor storage device, and a communication line.

By the way, the term "network address" as used in the present specification includes, within its meaning, an address for designating a node on a network, but not only that but also a device within a certain node. Location,
Note that information including a port, a process or a processing type is also included. For example, in the TCP / IP protocol, an IP address processed at the network layer is a typical example of a network address.
In addition, for example, a port number processed in the transport layer, a discriminator processed in the application layer, and the like are one type of network address referred to in this specification.

A printer according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention comprises:
The printer includes a host connection unit for connecting to a host, a printer connection unit for connecting to another printer, and a transfer unit for transferring print job data received from the host to another connected printer. By connecting this printer to the host and connecting another printer to this printer, the host can use a plurality of printers including this printer and other printers.

The printer of the present invention may preferably have network connection means for connecting to a network and communicating with a host on the network. Thus, the host on the network can use other printers through the network. That is, another network-incompatible printer can be introduced into the network.

The printer of the present invention may preferably further comprise a performance checking means for checking the performance of another connected printer. As a result, another printer can be managed based on the checked performance. Specific contents of the management function include, for example, a performance notification function of notifying the host of the performance of the other printers investigated and its own performance to the host, and a performance notification function from the host based on the performance of the other printer and its own performance. A determination / transfer function for determining which printer in a printer group including the printer itself and another printer should process the print job data and transferring the job data to the selected printer can be considered. If the performance notification function is provided, the printer driver of the host can cope with the performance of the printer group. When the determination / transfer function is provided, printing is automatically performed by a printer suitable for processing a print job without specifying a printer on the printer driver side on the host side. Of course, a function of transferring job data to the printer designated by the printer driver can be provided in the printer of the present invention.

The printer of the present invention may be provided with the above-described various means from the beginning, but it is not always necessary. For example, by attaching an option provided with the above-described means to a printer not originally equipped with the above-described means, or by loading a computer program for the above-described means from an external medium into a microcomputer in the printer. It is also possible to realize the printer of the present invention by combining the optional items and the program load.

If the printer of the present invention is implemented as a monochrome page printer, a printing system capable of high-speed monochrome printing and high-quality color printing can be realized at low cost by connecting a color inkjet printer to the printer. Further, the printer of the present invention is implemented as a printer compatible with a high expression function language such as Adobe Systems PostScript, and a standard printer not supporting the high expression function language is connected to the printer, and the printer of the present invention is connected. If rendering is performed for a standard printer in the above, a printing system compatible with a high expression function language can be realized at low cost.

A printer management apparatus according to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention comprises: a host connecting means for connecting to a host; a printer connecting means for connecting to a printer; and the print job data received from the host. Transfer means for transferring to a printer. By connecting a host and one or more printers to this printer management device, the host can use those printers. If this printer management apparatus is further provided with a network connection means, a network-incompatible printer can be introduced into a network. It is more desirable that the printer management apparatus further include the above-described performance checking means.

A printer according to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention comprises:
An upstream connection means for connecting to an upstream device such as a host or another printer; a downstream connection means for connecting to a downstream device such as another printer; and a print job received from the upstream device. Transfer means for transferring data to a downstream device. By connecting a plurality of such printers and connecting the most upstream printer to the host, the host can utilize the plurality of printers.

[0049] Desirably, at least the most upstream printer can be provided with a network connection means. As a result, a network-incompatible printer on the downstream side can be introduced into the network.

Preferably, each of the printers connected in a daisy chain is provided with performance checking means for checking the performance of each downstream printer.

This printer may be provided with the above-mentioned means originally, or may be realized by adding the above-mentioned means to a printer which is not originally provided by an optional product or a program load.

A pudding and system according to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention include a printer group having a first printer connected to another printer, and a host having a printer driver for the first printer mounted thereon. One printer has a receiving unit that receives print job data from a host, and a transfer unit that transfers the received print job data to any one of the printers in the printer group. According to this system, the host can use a printer in the printer group.

The first printer desirably has network connection means, so that the entire printer group can be introduced to the network.

It is desirable that the first printer further has a performance checking means for checking the performance of another printer.

A printer driver according to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention comprises: a means for issuing a performance notification request to a printer; and receiving a performance notification request from a printer, creating and displaying a user interface screen corresponding to the notified performance. And a means for transmitting, to the printer, data specifying a setting value selected by the user on the user interface screen. According to this printer driver, a flexible response can be made according to the performance of the printer. In particular, this printer driver is suitable as a printer driver for the first printer in the printer group of the print system of the present invention.

Further, if one printer driver of the present invention is installed in a host, it is not necessary to install dedicated drivers for all printer models to be used in the host. The printer driver of the present invention
This is because, as a result, a performance notification is received from each printer as needed, and the display is dynamically changed to a driver for each printer to perform display and setting processing.

A printer according to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention comprises:
Compound document means for receiving or generating compound document data, and rendering resources of file formats corresponding to each of a plurality of predetermined file formats and corresponding to the resources included in the compound document data It comprises a plurality of renderers, an image composer for integrating rendering results of the plurality of renderers to create a final print image, and a print engine for printing the print images.

This printer can print compound document data. In particular, if the printer is configured as a network compatible printer that can be connected to a network such as the Internet, it can receive and print a compound document transmitted on the network as it is. Therefore, there is a great practical advantage.

This printer is desirably connected to another device, identifies the file format of the resource included in the compound document data, and includes a non-compliant file format that none of its renderers supports. In this case, a document analyzer may be further provided that transfers the resource in the non-compliant file format to another device to request rendering, and receives the rendering result from the device and passes it to the image composer or its own renderer. As a result, a composite document including a file format that cannot be handled by the user can be completely printed.

In this case, the document analyzer has device information indicating a file format that can be rendered by another device, and the document analyzer refers to the device information and selects a device capable of rendering a resource in an unsupported file format. This is preferable because rendering can be performed reliably. Further, it is more preferable to provide a means for creating the device information, because it can cope with a change in the configuration of another device or a change in the rendering capability.

For a resource in a file format that cannot be rendered by the printer itself, a function of printing the resource by leaving that portion blank or replacing it with an appropriate proxy image, or rendering and printing only a resource in a file format specified by the user A function for performing such operations may be added to the printer.

A printer according to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention comprises:
A communication interface communicably connected to one or more other devices, a compound document means for receiving or generating compound document data, a file format of a resource included in the compound document data, and at least one file format A document analyzer that transfers the resources of the selected device to a selected one of the other devices for rendering, and receives a rendering result from the device, and an image composer that creates a final print image from the rendering result. And a print engine for printing the print image.

This printer can print a composite document by utilizing the rendering capability of another device, even if the printer does not have the capability of rendering the composite document. Of course, this printer can also have its own renderer corresponding to several file formats. If this printer is also configured as a network-compatible printer that can be connected to a network such as the Internet, it can receive a compound document from the network as it is, and can use various devices on the network, so that there is a high practical advantage.

In the case of a file format resource that cannot be rendered by another device or its own printer, the function of printing the file by leaving that part blank or replacing it with an appropriate proxy image, or by using only the resource in the file format specified by the user. A function of rendering and printing may be added to the printer.

A printer server according to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention comprises a communication interface communicably connected to another device including one or more printers, compound document means for receiving or generating compound document data, and a compound document Means for selecting a printer to print the document data from other devices;
Identify the file format of the resource contained in the compound document data, transfer the file format resource that can be rendered by the selected printer to the selected printer, and the file format resource that cannot be rendered by the selected printer And a document analyzer that supplies the result of rendering to the selected printer.

If this printer server is used in combination with a printer, it is possible to print a composite document by using the rendering capability of another device, even if the printer does not have the capability to render the composite document. It is. In particular, for example, in a workplace, by connecting this printer server to all printers in the workplace via a LAN or the like, a compound document can be printed by all printers without having to make each printer a compound document compatible printer.

This printer server may be embodied in a form incorporated in the above-described printer of the present invention. If the printer of the present invention is connected to another printer, the printer of the present invention can print the compound document by itself, and can also print the compound document by another printer.
In particular, connecting to a LAN or the like has a great practical advantage.

The renderer and the document analyzer, which are the main components of the printer and the print server of the present invention, can be typically implemented using a computer in the printer or the print server. , Can be installed or loaded into the computer through various media such as various semiconductor memories, various disk storages, and communication networks.

The present invention also provides a printing system in which another device is connected to the above-described printer or printer server. This printing system starts with a small-scale configuration in which a host computer and a printer are connected one-to-one with a cable.
The present invention can be implemented in various forms, such as forms such as ANs and WANs, and even large-scale networks such as the Internet, and therefore, its application range is extremely wide.

[0070]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a printing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

The host computer 1 is, for example, a personal computer, and sends out a print command written in one predetermined high-functional language (for example, PostScript). The high function printer 2 is connected to the host computer 1, and the low function printer 3 is connected to the high function printer 2.

The high function printer 2 interprets a print command written in a high function language from the host computer 1 to render an image to be printed, and prints the rendered image by itself. And a predetermined image that can be interpreted by the low-function printer 2 to render the rendered image (the image in this case may be a final band image or page image, but is preferably an intermediate code image in terms of processing efficiency). A transfer function that prepares a print command format written in a low-function language and transfers the print command to the low-function printer 2, and a selection function that automatically selects the two functions (for example, the printer to which the print command is addressed is made by itself. If there is, select the print function, and if it is the low-function printer 3, select the transfer function.)
And Further, the high function printer 2 notifies the host computer 1 of a status message in which the printer status of the high function printer 2 is written in the high function language, and a message in which the printer status of the low function printer 3 is written in the low function language. Is received from the low-function printer 3, converted into a high-function language status message, and sent to the host computer 1.

The low-function printer 3 cannot interpret a high-function language, but can interpret and print a print command in the low-function language described above. The low-function printer 3 also has a status reply function of sending a message written in a low-function language indicating its own printer status to the high-function printer 2. Here, the low-function language is a language having a lower expression ability than the high-function language, but the low-function printer 3 that supports only these low-function languages is usually a high-function printer that supports the high-function language. Price is considerably lower than 2.

The operation of this embodiment will be described. When a high-function printer 2 receives a print command written in a high-function language from the host computer 1, the high-function printer 2 interprets the print command. As a result of the interpretation, the intelligent printer 2 first recognizes the destination of the print command and then prints the individual primitives (image elements; i.e., individual characters, graphics, patterns, or the like) in each page to be printed. , Etc.) to create an intermediate code for each page and temporarily store it in its own RAM (not shown). If the destination of the print command is the intelligent printer 2, the intelligent printer 2 creates a complete band image from the intermediate code in the RAM and transfers it to its own print engine (not shown). Print on your own. On the other hand, when the destination of the print command is the low-function printer 3, the high-function printer 2 then prepares the print command by incorporating the intermediate code in the RAM into the format of the low-function language print command. Transfer to the low function printer 3. The low function printer 3 interprets the received low function language print command, renders a print image, and prints it.

In response to a request from the host computer 1 (or voluntarily), the intelligent printer 2 sends its printer status to the host computer 1 in the form of a status message written in an intelligent language. Furthermore,
When the high function printer 2 receives a status request from the host computer 1 to the low function printer 3, the high function printer 2 converts the status request into a low function language status request form and sends it to the low function printer 3. In response to the status request (or voluntarily), the low-function printer 3 transmits its own printer status to the high-function printer 2 in the form of a status message written in a low-function language. Then
The high function printer 2 extracts the printer status from the low function language status message, and tailors the high function language status message by incorporating the printer status into the high function language status message format.
This is transferred to the host computer 1.

When the high-function printer 2 performs printing by itself, it goes without saying that a high-level printing result utilizing the high expressive power of the high-function language can be obtained. Further, when printing is performed by the low-function printer 3, the high-function printer 2
Performs the conversion from the high-function language to the low-function language, so that the host computer 1 does not need to be aware of what language the low-function printer 3 can interpret, and uses only one high-function language to execute the low-function printer 3. And control
Since the high-function printer 2 renders the image based on the high-function language, high-level printing results can be obtained without losing the high expressive power of the high-function language. The host computer 1 can not only grasp the printer status of the high function printer 2 but also grasp the printer status of the low function printer 3 by the proxy status reply function of the high function printer 2. In short, the inexpensive low-function printer 3 can be used substantially equivalent to the high-function printer 2.

As a modification of this embodiment, when the high-performance printer 2 is, for example, a monochrome laser printer, a color inkjet printer is connected as the low-function printer 3 to this, and the high-performance printer 2 is connected to the high-performance printer 2. When a color print command written in a language is input, the high-performance printer 2 creates an intermediate code of each color component from the color print command (the monochrome intermediate code creation process may be repeated for each color component plane).
The print command may be configured into a low-functional language print command and sent to the color inkjet printer 3. As a result, advanced color printing utilizing high-function languages that could not be realized unless a high-performance color printer (currently extremely expensive at present) is now called a high-performance monochrome printer or a low-function color printer. It can be realized with a low-cost configuration. In this case, the selection function of the high-performance printer 2 does not respond to the destination of the print command as in the above-described embodiment, but responds to whether the color designation of the print command is monochrome or color.

As another modified example, the high-function printer 2 can operate the selection function in response to the load state of itself and the low-function printer 3 (for example, when the high-function printer 2 is printing itself). If the low-function printer 3 is on standby, the transfer function is selected;

As still another modification, a processing device having a function in which the printing function is removed from the high-function printer 2 may be used instead of the high-function printer 2. That is, in the above-described embodiment, the high-function printer 2 functions as the “high-function printer” itself and also functions as the “proxy server” that interprets the high-function language on behalf of the low-function printer 3. In a modified example, the processing device functions exclusively as a “proxy server”.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a printing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. High function printer 2
Is a plurality of low-function printers 3A via an internal communication network 5 such as an intranet in a company.
3B,... And an external communication network 4 such as the Internet. Although not shown, not only the low-function printers 3A, 3B,... But also other high-function printers may be connected to the high-function printer 2.

The high function printer 2 receives a print command written in a high function language such as PostScript from a host computer (not shown) on the external or internal communication network 4 or 5. Then, the high-function printer 2 performs printing on its own based on the received print command (print function) or the low-function printer 3A, 3
B, one is selected, the received high-function language print command is converted into a low-function language print command that the selected low-function printer can understand, and transferred to the selected low-function printer (transfer) function). If you want the transfer function to work,
Assuming that the low-function printer 3A supports, for example, the A language and the printer 3b supports, for example, the B language, the high-function printer 2 changes the high-function language print command to the A-language print command when the printer 3A is selected. To printer 3
When b is selected, the high function language print command is converted into the B language print command. The manner of conversion into the A language or the B language is the same as that of the above-described embodiment shown in FIG.

Further, the high function printer 2 also has the status reply function and the proxy status reply function described above. Therefore, the high-performance printer 2 becomes the printer 3a.
Receives the printer status message written in the A language from the printer 3b and converts it into a high function language printer status message and transfers it to the host computer. Upon receipt of the message, the message is converted into a printer status message in a high-functional language and transmitted to the host computer.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Upon receiving the print request from the communication network 4 in step 301, the high function printer 2 selects a printer to execute printing in step 302. Here, a print printer is selected, for example, as follows. That is, when a destination printer is specified in the print command, the specified printer is selected. If the destination is not specified, an appropriate printer is selected from the waiting printers (for example, the printers are selected from the waiting printers in a predetermined order of priority or identification number of each printer). Or select in the order of the least accumulated frequency of use). When the color designation of the print command is color, the printer is always selected from a color printer. When the color designation is monochrome, the printer is selected from a monochrome printer as much as possible. If there is no printer waiting, a response message such as busy is returned to the source of the print command.

Next, the high function printer 2 determines in step 303 whether or not the selected printer can interpret a high function language (for example, PostScript), and if it can do so (for example, selects itself or another high function printer). Proceeds to step 312 if not (for example, if the low-function printers 3A and 3B are selected), then go to step 312.
Go to 04. When proceeding to step 312, the intelligent printer 2 receives the subsequent print command from the communication network 4 and, in step 313, sends the received print command as it is to the selected intelligent printer, or If the user himself / herself is selected, the print command is interpreted, an intermediate code is generated, and a band image is developed from the intermediate code to perform printing. After executing this operation up to the end of the print command (step 314), the process ends.

On the other hand, if the process proceeds to step 304, the high-function printer 2 determines which of several predetermined low-function languages (for example, A language and B language) the language that the selected printer can interpret. To check. Subsequently, the conversion destination language is determined based on the result of the check. For example, when there are only two types of predetermined low-function languages, A language and B language,
If the result of the check is the A language, the process proceeds to step 305, where the conversion destination language is determined to be the A language. On the other hand, if the check result is not the A language, the process proceeds to step 306, where the conversion destination language is set to the B language. decide.

Next, in step 307, the high-performance printer 2 interprets the received print command while receiving the subsequent print command, renders a raster image of each primitive, creates an intermediate code, and creates a RAM. Once. Thus, an intermediate code for one page is created (step 308). Next, in step 309, the high-performance printer 2 writes the intermediate code for one page,
The print command of the low-functional language is created by incorporating it into the print command format of the low-functional language determined at step 305 or 306. Subsequently, in step 310, the high-function printer 2 sends the created low-function language print command to the selected printer. In this way, all of the intermediate codes for one page are tailored as print commands and sent to the selected printer (step 311). After executing the processing of steps 307 to 311 on the last page (step 315), the high-function printer 2 executes
The process ends.

The above-mentioned check in step 304 can be performed by, for example, the following method. One of them is a method of registering a language that can be supported by the printers 3A, 3B,... On the network 5 in the high-performance printer 2 in the form of a table, for example, and referring to the registered data. In this case, the registration of the corresponding language may be performed automatically by the high-function printer 2 inquiring the printers 3A, 3B,... About the corresponding language, or may be manually performed by the operator from a keyboard or the like. Another method of the check is a method in which the high-performance printer 2 inquires the selected printer of a corresponding language every time a print command is received. In this case as well, if the language confirmed by the inquiry is registered in a table or the like in the high-performance printer 2 in association with the printer, when the same printer is selected thereafter, the registration data is transmitted without making an inquiry. The corresponding language can be determined simply by referring to the language.

According to the present embodiment, a plurality of low-function printers 3A, 3B,... Can be controlled in a unified manner in a high-function language, and a high-level printing utilizing the high expression ability of the high-function language can be performed. Using the low-function printers 3A, 3B,... Therefore, a system having substantially the same function as a plurality of high-function printers can be constructed at a very low cost by using a plurality of low-function printers 3A, 3B,.

In the present embodiment, it is also possible to replace the high-performance printer 2 with a dedicated “proxy server” having no printing function.

As a third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, a host computer 1 is connected to a single communication network 6 (or a plurality of small networks connected).
A, 1B,... And the high-function printer 2 and various low-function printers 3A, 3B,.
Receive the print command of the high function language from the host computer 1A, 1B,... On behalf of the low function printers 3A, 3B,. It can also be transferred to a printer.

When the received print command is converted into a language corresponding to the selected printer, an intermediate code is created from the received print command in the above-described embodiment, and the intermediate code is tailored to a command in the destination language. It is not always necessary to use that method, and another method may be used. For example,
A complete raster image of the band or page may be created from the intermediate code, and this band image or page image may be tailored to the command in the destination language. Alternatively, a command conversion look-up table or a command conversion function based on the correspondence between commands between languages may be prepared in advance, and the table or function may be used to directly convert to a command in the target language. . In the latter method, when a command in a high-functional language is converted into a command in a low-functional language, the expressive ability of the high-functional language may be impaired and the image quality may deteriorate, but as in the modification described below, It is suitable when converting to another language having the same expressive ability or another language having a high expressive ability in a simple system.

Further, in the various embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the high function printer 2 is replaced with a printer corresponding to a specific language (for example, an A language printer), and the low function printers 3, 3A, 3B Are replaced by printers corresponding to various other languages, the A-language compatible printer 2 receives the A-language print command as a "proxy server" of another printer, and converts it into a language compatible with other printers. It is also possible to transfer the data to another printer. In such a system, even if there are various types of printers of different types and manufacturers, it is possible to control these printers in a unified manner using one language such as ESC / Page.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a communication network system using a network printer having a function of a local router according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 5, a network printer 11 with a local router function can communicate with a host 15 by connecting to the Internet 12 by itself. One or more non-network compatible printers 13, 14,... That cannot be connected to the Internet by themselves are connected to the network printer 11 via interfaces to which the respective printers 13, 14,. Since the network printer 11 has its own IP address and a function as a printer, it can operate as one terminal printer on the Internet 12. In addition, the network printer 11
Each non-network compatible printer 13 connected to itself,
, And also has a function of relaying communication between the printers 13 and 14 and the host 15, so that non-network compatible printers 13, 14,.
Can also operate as a local router for introducing the group of users to the Internet 12.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a relay function as a local router of the network printer 11 shown in FIG.

The network printer 11 is a part of the Internet 12, for example, an Ethernet of a work LAN.
a physical layer 18, a data link layer 19, a network layer 20, a transport layer 21, and an application layer 22 which are connected to the network 17 and constitute a TCP / IP protocol stack for communication on the Internet 12.
(For example, HTTP, FTP, SMTP, LPR, etc.)
Protocol processing unit.

The network printer 11 has a serial interface (S) 24, a parallel interface (P) 25, and a universal serial bus (US).
B) It also has a data interface such as 26,
A plurality of non-network compatible printers 13, 14, 16,... Can be connected to these data interfaces. And this network printer 11
A physical layer 27, a data link layer 28, a network layer 29, a transport layer 30, an application layer 31, which constitutes a communication protocol stack for the USB 26, and a physical layer 32, which constitutes a data communication protocol stack for the serial interface 24; A link layer 33, a network layer 34, a transport layer 35, an application layer 36, and a physical layer 37, a data link layer 38, a network layer 39, a transport layer 40, and an application layer which form a data communication protocol stack for the parallel interface 25. It also has 41 protocol processing units.

It is a matter of course that data can be passed from the lower layer to the upper layer and from the upper layer to the lower layer inside each protocol stack.
Network layer 20 in CP / IP protocol stack
And the network layer 29 in the other protocol stacks,
Data can also be exchanged between the terminals 34 and 39. This makes it possible to introduce the network-incompatible printers 13, 14, 16,... To the Internet 12.

FIG. 7 shows the IP addresses of the network printer 11. As shown in FIG. 7, the network printer 11 uses, for example, “163, 141, 22, 1” to “163, 141, 2” for the printer 11 itself and the four printers 13, 14, and 16.
2 and 6 ", and transfers the four IP addresses to the destination (e.g., the printer 11 itself, the serial interface 24,
The data is registered and held in a nonvolatile memory such as an NVRAM in association with the parallel interface 25 and the USB 26. When a packet containing any of the above four IP addresses is received from the Internet 12, all of the packets are answered by themselves and, as described in detail below, the IP address of the packet is
If the printer 1 itself is specified, the data in the packet is processed by the printer 11 itself, and if another transfer destination (S, P, USB) is specified, the packet is transferred to the corresponding transfer destination.

Such processing is performed as follows on the configuration shown in FIG.

That is, a packet transmitted from the Ethernet 17 to the host 15 arrives at the network printer 11. As shown in FIG. 8, the packet first
By the physical layer 18 of the CP / IP protocol stack,
The electric signal is converted into a data bit string and passed to the data link layer 19. The data link layer 19 interprets the data link header DH in the header portion of the packet, and checks a “MAC address” indicating the destination hardware included in the data link header DH. Incidentally, when the network printer 11 is manufactured, a unique “MAC address” unique to the Internet 12 is assigned to the network printer 11, and the data link layer 19 knows this. If the MAC address of the destination hardware in the received packet matches the specific MAC address assigned to the network printer 11, the data link layer 19 removes the data link header DH from the received packet and removes the remaining part. To the network layer 20.

The network layer 20 is the data link layer 1
9 is interpreted and the “IP address” indicating the destination device included in the network header NH is replaced with the IP address in the NVRAM as shown in FIG. Check whether it matches the “IP address” on the list. As a result, the destination device I
If the P address matches the IP address assigned to the network printer 11, the network layer 20 further removes the network header NH from the received packet and passes the rest to the transport layer 21. On the other hand, when the IP address of the destination device in the received packet matches the IP address assigned to the serial interface 24, the parallel interface 25, or the USB 26, the network layer 20 transmits the received packet to the serial interface 24, It passes to the network layer 29, 34 or 39 of the protocol stack for interface 25 or USB 26. FIG.
Indicates that the IP address in the received packet is the
In this example, the packet is passed to the network layer 29 of the protocol stack for the USB 26 because the packet matches the address. When the network layer 20 of the TCP / IP stack passes a received packet to the network layer 29, 34, or 39 of another protocol stack, the network layer 20 changes the data format of the packet to the destination network layer 29, 34. Or, it is converted into a format that can be handled by 39 and then passed. The specific data format is determined by the interfaces 24, 25,
Although it depends on the specific specifications of the twenty-six, it is well known and does not directly relate to the essence of the present invention and will not be described here. However, as a general trend, other non-network interfaces 24, 25,
The format and specification of data, packets, and headers used in 26 are simpler than those used in the TCP / IP protocol.

When the received packet is passed from the network layer 20, the transport layer 21 of the TCP / IP stack transfers the transport header TH in the header portion.
Is interpreted, and the “port number” indicating the destination application included in the transport header TH is checked. By the way, in the TCP / IP protocol system,
For example, it is defined that a specific port number specifies a specific application, such as HTTP being the port number 80 and FTP being the port number 31, and the transport layer 21 knows this. Therefore, if the port number in the received packet matches the specific port number, the transport layer 21 further removes the transport header TH from the received packet, and
Individual protocol (HTTP, FTP, SMTP, LPR) of the application layer 22 specified by the port number
Etc.). Each individual protocol of the application layer 22 includes an application header A of the passed packet.
H is interpreted, and the net data obtained by further removing the application header AH from the packet is passed to a processing routine (not shown) inside the application corresponding to the “discriminator” in the application header AH. The processing routine interprets the passed data (typically, a print request, that is, a print command) and performs print processing. in this case,
The network printer 11 performs printing.

The network layer 29, 34 or 39 of the protocol for the other interface 26, 24 or 25
When receiving data of a format suitable for the network layer 29, 34 or 39 is passed from the CP / IP network layer 20, the received data is transmitted to the data link layer 28 of its own protocol.
Pass to 33 or 38. Data link layer 28, 33 or 3
8 passes it to the physical layer 27, 32 or 37 of its own protocol, and the physical layer 27, 32 or 37 converts it into an electric signal and sends it to the non-network compatible printer 16, 13 or 14 connected to it. . Therefore, in this case, the printing process is performed by the network non-compliant printer 16, 13, or 14. The processing in each layer when data is passed from the upper layer to the lower layer in each other protocol stack differs depending on the specific specifications of the interfaces 24, 25, and 26, which are well known and essential to the present invention. Since it is not directly related, it will not be described in this specification. However, as a general trend, the processing of each protocol layer at the non-network interfaces 24, 25, 26 is simpler than that of the TCP / IP protocol (eg, network header N
H and the data link header DH are not distinguished, or the network header NH and the data link header D
H is omitted (length is 0), etc.).

As described above, a print request arriving at the network printer 11 from the host 15 is subjected to a printing process by the network printer 11 or a non-print request according to the destination IP address included in the request. The data is transferred to the network printer 13, 14, or 16, where the print processing is performed.

The data (for example, printer status and error notification) output from the network printer 11 or the non-network printers 13, 14, or 16 to the host 15 follow the reverse route and process. Via the Internet 12 addressed to the host 15
And sent to the Ethernet 17. In this case, the network layer 29, 34 or 39 of the non-network interface protocol
Is a format of a packet handled by the network layer 20 when the data is passed to the TCP / IP network layer 20 (that is, a format similar to a packet passed from the transport layer 21 of the TCP / IP to the network layer 20). Convert to and pass.

As described above, the network-incompatible printers 13, 14, 16 can be introduced into the Internet 12.

In the fourth embodiment, a plurality of IPs
Each IP address is given a different priority within one network printer 11 having an address, and the security level is changed according to the priority, the paper size is changed, monochrome printing or color printing, image printing is performed. Or text printing, or normal printing or confidential printing that requires an ID password, physically makes one network printer a plurality of printers with different functions when viewed from the network side. It is also possible to use it as if. Even if the network printer obtains only one IP address, it identifies one non-network-compatible printer connected to the printer by a port number, thereby obtaining one IP address.
A plurality of printers can be introduced into a network using a P address. Further, a local router having only the above-described relay function can be used instead of the network printer.

Further, as the network address, I
In addition to the P address, it is also possible to use other things, such as a port number and a discriminator. For example, in the configuration shown in FIG. 6, when a packet arrives at the network printer 22 from the Ethernet 17, the following protocol processing can be performed.

(1) The data link layer 19 fetches only a packet addressed to its own physical address (MAC address).

(2) The network layer 20 includes, in the packet passed from the data link layer 19,
4, 16 (or other interfaces 24, 25, 26)
When it finds an IP address that specifies, it sends the packet to the protocol stack for the specified interface.

(3) The transport layer 21 includes in the packet passed from the network layer 20 another printer 13
14, 16 (or other interfaces 24, 25, 2,
When finding the port number designating 6), the packet is sent to the protocol stack of the designated interface.

(4) The application layer 22 includes another printer 1 in the packet passed from the transport layer 21.
3, 14, 16 (or other interfaces 24, 25,
When a discriminator designating 26) is found, the packet is sent to the protocol stack of the designated interface.

An example of this processing will be described below in the case where an OS called WindowsNT of Microsoft Corporation in the United States is used.

First, an example of the above (2) will be described. In the configuration shown in FIG. 5, it is assumed that the host 15 gives the following two different transmission commands to the OS and performs two transmissions to the network printer 11.

First time: lpr-S 163.141.22.51 print.dat Second time: lpr-S 163.141.22.52 print.dat These two transmission instructions are both “163.141.22.51” and “163.141.22.51” using the protocol “LPR”. 163.141.22.52 "
"Print.da" to two different IP addresses
OS to send print command data named "t"
Command. If the former of the two IP addresses is assigned to the network printer 11 and the latter is assigned to another printer, the first transmission data is printed by the network printer 11,
The transmission data for the first time is transferred to another printer.

FIG. 9 shows this state. The print command data whose destination IP address is “163.141.22.51” is sent to the processing routine in the network printer 11. However, the destination IP address is "163.141.22.52"
And "163.141.22.53" are TCP / I
From the network layer 20 of P, for example, to the USB layer 26 and the network layers 29 and 34 of the serial interface, the data is transferred to the non-network printers 26 and 24. In addition, as described above, the TCP / IP network layer 2
When the transfer destination is divided by 0, the non-network printers 26 and 24 at the transfer destination need to be able to interpret the TCP / IP application layer protocol (LPR, HTTP, FTP, etc.).

Next, an example of the above (3) will be described. It is assumed that two different transmission commands are given on the host 15 side and two transmissions are performed.

First time: lpr -S 163.141.22.51 print.dat Second time: ftp 163.141.22.51 print.dat The first transmission instruction is a protocol called “LPR”.
Transmission means to the IP address “163.141.22.51”, and the second transmission command means transmission to the same IP address by the protocol “FTP”. Then, the port number “515” assigned to the LPR is assigned to the first transmission packet, and the port number “21” assigned to the FTP is assigned to the second transmission packet. If the port number is "515"
If the port number “21” is assigned to another printer in the LPR application of the network printer 11, the first transmission data is printed by the network printer 11, but the second transmission data is Printer.

FIG. 10 shows this state. The print command data having the destination port number “515” is sent to the processing routine in the network printer 11. However, data with destination port numbers “21” and “81” are transmitted from the transport layer 21 of TCP / IP, respectively.
For example, it is passed to the USB 26 and the transport layers 30 and 35 of the serial interface, and is transferred to the non-network printers 26 and 24. In addition, TC
When the transfer destination is divided in the P / IP transport layer,
The destination non-network printers 26 and 24 are TCP
/ IP application layer protocol (LPR, HTT
P, FTP, etc.).

Next, an example of the above (4) will be described. It is assumed that two different transmission commands are given on the host 15 side and two transmissions are performed.

First time: lpr -S 163.141.22.51 -P PRINTER1 print.dat Second time: lpr -S 163.141.22.51 -P PRINTER2 print.dat Both the first time and the second time use the same IP in the LPR protocol.
It is sent to the address, but the different data queues inside the application, "PRINTER1" and "PRINTER2", are specified. Incidentally, in the protocol called LPR, it is possible to manage the presence of a plurality of print queues inside, and print requests can be stored in separate print queues. The print queue designations “PRINTER1” and “PRINTER2” are incorporated in the packet as discriminators for the application layer. At this time, if the discriminator “PRINTER1” is the network printer 1
If the discriminator "PRINTER2" is assigned to another printer, the first transmission data is printed by the network printer 11, but the second transmission data is transferred to the other printer. Will be.

FIG. 11 shows this state. The print command data whose destination print queue is “PRINTER1” is sent to the processing routine in the network printer 11. However, the data whose destination print queue is “PRINTER2” or “PRINTER3” are respectively stored in the TCP / IP application layer 2
2 to the non-procedure protocol of the USB 26 and the application layers 31 and 36 of the serial interface, for example, and the non-network printers 26 and 2
4 is transferred.

Incidentally, the above description is made using a specific hierarchical model, and the hierarchical model is one logical concept. Therefore, the configuration of the actual device does not necessarily have to correspond one-to-one with the above-described hierarchical model, and may have a more detailed hierarchical structure, or may include two or more hierarchies of the above model. Various device configuration variations, such as one layer, can be adopted without departing from the gist of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram of a print system according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 12, a network-compatible printer 51 is connected to a network, for example, the Internet 55, and is connected to an arbitrary host 54 on the Internet 55 by T.
It has a function to communicate by CP / IP protocol. The network-compatible printer 51 is for connecting a plurality of non-network-compatible printers (of course, network-compatible printers) 52, 53... N to communicate with the non-network-compatible printers 52, 53. For example, a connection port such as a serial interface or a parallel interface is provided. In this specification, the network-compatible printer 51 and the printers 52, 53,... N connected thereto are collectively called a printer group.
The side closer to the Internet 55 in this printer group is called the upstream side, and the side farther away is called the downstream side. For example, the network compatible printer 51 is the most upstream printer in this printer group. Network compatible printer 51
And the non-network compatible printers 52, 5 and 5 on the downstream side.
.. N are communicated by the same protocol as that used in a general one-to-one connection between a host and a printer via a serial interface or a parallel interface.

The network-compatible printer 51 has, in addition to its original functions, downstream printers 52, 53,.
n and a function of introducing them to the Internet 55 (hereinafter, referred to as a printer management function). The printer management function includes the following two processing functions. The first is a process of investigating the performance of the downstream printers 52, 53,... N and reporting the performance to the host 54 (hereinafter referred to as an investigation process). Second,
This is processing for transferring a print job received from the host 54 to a printer selected from within the group (hereinafter referred to as transfer processing). Further, the transfer process includes a process of determining which printer to select based on the performance of each printer (hereinafter, referred to as a determination process). The contents of these processes will be described below.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of the investigation process performed by the network compatible printer.

In this investigation processing, the network compatible printer 51 first inquires the downstream printers 52, 53,..., N about the performance of all the setting items and setting value ranges of each printer, and the printers 52, 53,. The information is obtained from n and stored (1100). Here, the setting items are predetermined items indicating types of attributes of the printer, and include, for example, a printing color, a resolution, and a paper size. The set value range is a range of values that can be set for each setting item. For example, in the case of a certain type of color printer, the print color is monochrome and color, the resolution is 300 dpi and 600 dpi, and the paper size is Is a set value range for postcards, envelopes, B5, A4, and the like. The network-compatible printer 51 determines whether all downstream printers in the printer group have been checked (1101).
If there are still unexamined printers, the investigation is continued. If all the printers in the group have been inspected, the information obtained by adding the performance of the self printer to the host is transmitted to the host (1103).

As a trigger for performing the checking process, for example, when the host 54 is first connected, or when the host 54 requests notification of the printer performance, or the like can be adopted. Alternatively, the downstream printers 52, 53,.
n, or when a certain period after the start-up, the performance of the downstream printer is checked and stored, and thereafter, when the printer is connected to the host 54 or the host 5
When the performance notification is requested from the host 4, the result of the investigation is transferred to the host 54.
You may send to.

FIG. 14 shows a network compatible printer 51.
6 is a flowchart of a transfer process performed by the user.

The operation of the driver of the network-compatible printer 51 that has received the print job will be described with reference to FIG.

Upon receiving the print job from the host 54, the network-compatible printer 51 analyzes the contents of the job, and first determines whether or not printing is possible based on the performance of its own printer (1300). If printing is possible, the data of the received job is processed by the own printer and printing is executed (1301).

When it is determined that printing is impossible based on the performance of the own printer (also, when the own printer is performing another job processing, sufficient resources for processing the currently received job cannot be secured). The performance of one of the downstream printers 52, 53... N in the group stored in the investigation processing is checked (1302), and it is determined whether or not the received job can be printed based on the performance of the printer (1303). As a result, if possible, a print job is transferred to the printer to execute printing (1304). On the other hand, if the performance of the printer is not printable (or the resources are insufficient), another downstream printer is checked one after another (1305), a printer capable of printing is found and attached, and the print job is transferred to it. . If printing is still impossible after checking all the printers in the group, the host 54 is notified that printing is impossible (130).
6).

FIG. 15 shows details of the judgment processing in steps 1300 and 1303 in the flow of FIG.

In both steps 1300 and 1303, the network compatible printer 51 performs the processing shown in FIG. First, the network-compatible printer 51 checks the content of the print job and extracts the printer attribute specified by the job (1400). Here, the attribute specified by the job is described in the job data, typically in the format of “setting item = setting value”. For example, if "print color = color, resolution = 600" is written, it means that a printer capable of color printing at a resolution of 600 dpi is required.

Next, the network target printer 51
By referring to the performance of the stored target printer (the own printer 1 in 1300, the downstream printer to be judged in 1303), whether the target printer can support the set value specified by the job (that is, the corresponding It is determined whether the setting value range of the setting item to be set includes the setting value specified by the job (1401). As a result, if the print job specification cannot be supported, such as when the print job specification is “print color = color”, but the setting range of the target printer is “print color = black and white”, printing is performed. It is determined that it is impossible (1404).

On the other hand, if the job can be specified, as in the case where the setting range of the target printer is “print color = color and black and white” in the above example, other setting values specified by the print job Check in the same way (140
2) If all set values can be supported, it is determined that printing is possible (1403).

The network compatible printer 5 as described above
By the process (1), all the printers in the printer group can be introduced to the Internet 55. In this case, the non-network compatible printers 52, 53,..., N downstream of the network compatible printer 51 may basically perform the same operation as when connected to the host 54 via a serial interface or a parallel interface. . To the host 54, the network-compatible printer 51 looks like a printer having the performance of all the printers in the printer group. Therefore, the host 54 may handle the network-compatible printer 51 as such a printer. However, the printer configuration of the printer group is likely to be changed, and the performance of the network-compatible printer 51 seen from the host 54 changes according to the change in the group configuration. for that reason,
Network compatible printer 51 mounted on host 54
It is desirable that the printer driver for the printer be capable of flexibly coping with such a change in the group configuration.

FIG. 16 shows an example of the processing flow of the printer driver having the above flexibility mounted on the host 54.

Upon activation, the printer driver of the host 54 first sends a performance notification request to the network-compatible printer 51 at the uppermost stream of the printer group (1500). Next, when the performances of all the printers in the group are received from the network compatible printer 51 (1501), the received printer performances are stored, and a user interface screen including all the performances is generated and displayed (1).
502).

FIG. 17 shows two examples of the user interface screen displayed in step 1502.

The user interface screen is composed of a single setting window 6 or a plurality of setting windows 6 displayed in an overlapping manner.
On each setting window 60, one or more setting item boxes 61 indicating setting items are arranged. For example, in the example of FIG.
There are six 0s, and the setting window currently displayed on the front has one setting item box 61. FIG. 17 (b)
In this example, there are six setting windows 60, and the setting box 61 currently displayed on the front has a setting box 61
There are three. Below each setting item box 61, two, three or more setting value boxes 62 for indicating setting values are provided, and beside each setting value box 62, each setting value is selected. There is a radio button 63 for

At the beginning of the startup, the printer driver has only the information of the framework for creating the user interface screen as shown in FIG. At this stage, the number of setting windows 60 in the user interface screen, the number of setting item boxes 61 arranged on each setting window 60, the number of setting value boxes 62 arranged below each setting item box 61, and each setting The contents of the item box 61 and each setting value box 62 are undecided.

When the printer driver receives the performance of all the printers in the group in step 1501, the printer driver displays the number of setting windows 60 according to the number of setting items included in the performance information and the number of setting values of each setting item. The number of setting item boxes 61 on each setting window 60 and the number of setting value boxes 62 below each setting item box 61 are determined. Then, the name of each setting item included in the performance information is entered in each setting item box 61, and each setting value of each setting item included in the performance information is entered in each setting value box 62. A user interface screen as shown in FIG. 17 is generated. For example, FIG.
The setting item “PAINT” in (a) indicates the printing color, and the setting value “COLOR” indicates that the printer can perform color printing with any of the printers in the group.
Means that black and white printing can be performed by any of the printers in the group. The setting item “RESOLUTION” shown in FIG. 17B means the resolution, and the setting values “600” and “300” are 600 dp in the group.
It means that only two resolutions, i and 300 dpi, can be selected, and the setting item “PAPER SIZE” means the paper size, and the installation values “A3” and “A4”
“B4” means that only these three paper sizes can be selected in the group. When the user clicks the mouse on the radio button 64 of an arbitrary setting value, the setting value can be selected, and the radio button 64 clicked with the mouse is marked with a black circle.

If the user clicks the "OK" button 64 on the user interface screen with the mouse, the printer driver stores the selected setting value as the specified printer attribute, and proceeds to step 1503 to execute printing from the user. Waits for a request. When a print request is received from the user, the printer driver transmits the document data to be printed together with the stored printer attributes to the network compatible printer 5.
1 is converted into print job data in a format that can be interpreted and transmitted to the network compatible printer 51.

As described above, the printer driver can flexibly cope with the performance of the printer group.

A specific example of requests and performance information exchanged between the host 54, the network compatible printer 51, and the downstream non-network compatible printers 52, 3,..., N will be described below.

First, an example of a performance notification request sent from the host 54 to the network compatible printer 51 is shown below.

@EJL INQUIRE ALL RA
NGE <LF> Here, “$ EJL” is a prefix in a specific job control language to be used. Since “INQUIRE” is a command code for a performance request, and “ALL RANGE” is a parameter for specifying all setting items, this sentence
This means a request to notify all setting items.

When this request is received, the network printer 51 inquires the performance of each of the downstream printers 52, 3,..., N, and this inquiry request has the same sentence as the performance notification request.

The performance information returned from each of the downstream printers 52, 53,..., N to the network printer 51 is, for example, as follows.

＠EJL ANSWER ALL RANGE <LF> ＠EJL RANGE RESOLUTION = 600
/ 300 <LF> ＠EJL RANGE PAINT = MONO <LF> ＠EJL RANGE PAPER SIZE = A4 /
B4 <LF> Here, “ANSWER” in the first sentence is a command code for performance notification, and this sentence means a declaration that all setting items are notified here. In the second sentence and below,
“RANGE” is a command code meaning that the setting value range of the setting item is as follows, and the following parameter of the format “setting item name” = “setting value 1 / setting value 2 /. It means that the selectable setting values of the setting item corresponding to the “setting item name” are “setting 1”, “setting value 2”. In this example, the resolution is 600 and 300 dpi, the print color is only black and white, and the paper size is A
4 and B4 are selectable.

When the network-compatible printer 51 collects the performance information from all the downstream printers, it collects the
The performance information at that time is in the same format as above. In this case, following the first declaration sentence, ＠EJL ANSWER ALL RANGE <LF>, the second sentence below the second sentence received from the first downstream printer, and the second sentence below the second sentence from the downstream printer. RANGE sentence of…
Thus, RANGE statements from a plurality of downstream printers may be simply connected as they are and sent to the host 54,
Alternatively, notification texts from a plurality of downstream printers may be arranged and, for example, a new RANGE text described below may be edited and sent.

＠EJL ANSWER ALL RANGE <LF> ＠EJL RANGE RESOLUTION = 600
/ 300 <LF> @EJL RANGE PAINT = COLOR / MO
NO <LF> @EJL RANGE PAPER SIZE = A4 /
B4 / LTR <LF> @EJL RANGE ORIENTATION = LA
ND / PORT <FF> In this example, the RA from a downstream printer
In the NGE sentence, "PAINT = MONO" and "PAPER
If “SIZE = A4 / B4”, the contents of the RANGE statement from another printer are also taken into account, and “PAINT
= COLOR / MONO ”,“ PAPER SIZE = A
4 / B4 / LTR "has been edited.

Upon receiving such performance information, the printer driver of the host 54 extracts setting item names and setting values from the parameters of each RANGE statement, and creates a user interface screen as illustrated in FIG. . After the OK button is pressed on this user interface screen,
When a print request is received, print job data is sent from the host 54 to the network compatible printer 51. The specification of the printer attribute included in the print job data is, for example, the following statement.

＠EJL SET RESOLUTION
= 600 <LF> @EJL SET PAINT = MONO <LF> @EJL SET PAPER SIZE = A3 <LF
Here, “SET” is a command code meaning that the attribute indicated by the following parameter is specified. In this example, a resolution of 600 dpi, a print color of black and white, and a paper size of A4 are specified.

FIG. 18 is a configuration diagram of a print system according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

In the previous embodiment, the downstream printers 52, 53,..., N were connected in parallel to the network compatible printer 51. In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. Compatible printer 7
, M, with 0 as the most upstream
Are serially connected in a daisy chain (simple daisy chain connection by bus, cable, etc.).

However, such a difference in the physical connection form is not essential for the present invention. Regardless of the connection form, the performance notification request is reduced from the most upstream network compatible printer 70 to all the downstream printers 71,..., M by a known communication method suitable for each connection form. The performance information from all the printers 71,..., M can be collected in the most upstream network compatible printer 70. For example, in the daisy chain shown in FIG. 18, if the information transmitted through the daisy chain can be transmitted through an intermediate printer like SCSI, as in the previous embodiment, the most upstream network compatible printer 7.
It is sufficient that only 0 has a downstream printer management function. On the other hand, each printer in the daisy chain interprets the information received from the next printer, creates information on its own based on the result, and passes it to the next printer on the opposite side. When the method is adopted, not only the most upstream network compatible printer 70 but also the other printers 71,... Other than the most downstream printer m need to have a function of managing the downstream printer.

In the case of the latter relay type, the most downstream printer m
The other printers 70, 71,... Perform operations as shown in FIG. 19 to notify the host 54 of the performance of this printer group.

As shown in FIG. 19, each of the printers 70 and 7
Are the devices upstream of the own device (the host 54 in the case of the network-compatible printer 70, the other printers 71,...).
In the case of (1), when a performance notification request is received from the first-stage upstream printer, a similar performance notification request is sent to the one-stage downstream printer from itself, and the performance information of the printer group below that downstream printer is acquired. It is stored (1800). Then, it is determined whether or not this performance check has been performed for all of the printers on the downstream side of the first stage (1801).

In the configuration shown in FIG. 18, since all the printers have only one downstream printer, the investigation ends immediately. However, when a certain printer has n one-stage downstream printers in parallel (that is, when the daisy chain is branched into n printers in the printer), the printer is connected to the n downstream printers. , The process of step 1800 is performed.

When all the performances of the downstream printer group have been checked in this way, each printer adds its own performance to the performance of the downstream printer group and notifies the one-stage upstream printer (1802).

In this manner, the performance information of all the downstream printers 71,..., M is finally collected in the most upstream network compatible printer 70, so that the network compatible printer 70 adds its own performance to it. Host 5
4 is notified (1802).

Thereafter, when the print job data arrives at the network printer 70 from the host 54, the network printer 70 determines whether to print by itself or to a downstream printer group. The print job data is passed to the downstream printer 71. Hereinafter, each printer makes a similar determination, and when printing is performed by a printer group at a further downstream side, the print job data is transferred to a printer one stage downstream. In this way, the print job data is relayed to the printer that is ultimately responsible for printing. In this process, each printer receiving the print job data determines which of the printer group and the downstream printer group is suitable for the job processing, and dynamically determines the final print charge according to the determinations of those printers. The printer is determined.

When a plurality of printers are grouped as in the fifth and sixth embodiments described above, the processing capacity can be increased by grouping the same type of printers. A unique effect can be expected with a combination of different types of printers.

In the example shown in FIG. 20A, a monochrome laser printer and a color ink jet printer are combined. As a result, a network-compatible printer function that combines the high-speed, high-resolution monochrome printing function provided by a laser printer and the high-quality color printing function provided by a color inkjet printer has such a function in one unit. It can be realized at a much lower cost than a network compatible printer (a network compatible color laser printer). In addition, if the inkjet printer is configured to utilize the advanced language interpretation and rendering capabilities typically found in laser printers, higher throughput and shorter host open time can be obtained than when the inkjet printer is used alone. Can be

In the example shown in FIG. 20B, one high-quality large-size printer capable of printing on A3 paper and several low-cost printers capable of printing only A4 or smaller paper are grouped. As a result, the price of A3 paper is A
A large-capacity printing system capable of handling four or less papers can be constructed, and since the A3 printer and the A4 printer are at the same address on the network, they are easier to use than arranging them at different addresses on the network. Good.

In the example shown in FIG. 20C, a high-performance printer capable of interpreting and rendering a high-performance language having an extremely rich expression capability such as PostScript of Adobe Systems, and a function for interpreting such a high-performance language are provided. Standard printers that do not have any are grouped. This makes it possible to construct a large-capacity print system that supports a high-functional language at a much lower price than when a plurality of high-function printers are provided. In addition, if a high-performance printer is configured to use the high-function language interpretation and rendering functions when printing with a standard printer, an image of the same quality as the high-function printer can be printed with the standard printer.

FIG. 21 shows the flow of the judgment process when there are two or more printers that can support the setting value specified by the job when judging the printer to process the print job in the above two embodiments. Is shown.

As shown in FIG. 21, the self printer and all the downstream printers are checked to determine whether or not there are two or more candidate printers that can support the set value specified by the job (1).
If there is only one candidate, the job is transferred to the candidate printer (1903). However, when there are two or more candidates, the condition subtraction method is used to select 1, the printer currently printing 2, the printer with less remaining toner and paper, and the printer with more use times. 4. Printers with higher cost of consumables 5, color printers for monochrome specification, high resolution printers for low resolution specification, and printers that are geographically distant are removed one after another. Squeeze (1
901). Then, the print job is transferred to the narrowed candidate printer (1902).

The printer driver of the host does not necessarily need to be capable of flexibly responding as described above. For example, a printer driver displays a fixedly determined setting item and setting value on the user interface screen as in the related art, and the network-compatible printer does not notify the host of the performance of the printer group. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which only the network compatible printer grasps the performance of the printer group and selects a printer in charge of printing according to the job content.

In addition, the network compatible printer does not simply notify the host of the performance of the entire group.
Notify the identity and performance of individual printers in the group,
The printer driver of the host creates a user interface screen according to each performance for each printer in the group and displays it individually, so that the user can grasp the printer configuration of the group and the performance of each printer, A configuration in which a desired printer can be designated and a print request can be issued can also be adopted. In this case, when the printer driver issues the print job data, it is necessary to specify which printer is to be used for printing. Therefore, the network-compatible printer can omit troublesome determination processing and simply print the print job to the designated printer. Data can be transferred.

Instead of a network compatible printer, a printer management device having only a network connection function and the above-described downstream printer management function can be used.

The network-compatible printer may be an original network-compatible printer. However, the network-compatible printer was originally incompatible with a network, but was made network-compatible by attaching an optional product such as a network adapter. You may. The above-described downstream printer management function may be provided in the printer from the beginning, but is not necessarily required. For example, the downstream printer management function may be provided in a network adapter or another optional item such as an additional ROM or an additional board. May be provided to the printer at
Alternatively, a management function program may be loaded from a network, a host, or the like into a microcomputer in the printer.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing a printing system according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention.

A printer 81 is connected to a local communication network 170 such as an intranet or a LAN constituting a certain domain. This communication network 1
The other printers 101 and 102 and the host computers 103 and 104 are also connected to 70. The communication network 170 is further connected to an external communication network 160, and forms a part of a large-scale network such as the Internet.

FIG. 23 shows a functional configuration of the printer 81 shown in FIG.

The printer 81 has the communication interface 9
1. An imaging controller 92 and a print engine 93 are provided. The communication interface 91 connects to the communication network 170 and
It performs data communication with the above other devices. The imaging controller 92 interprets the document data received via the communication interface 91, and converts a print image of the document (binary raster image data indicating whether or not a dot of a colorant is to be formed at each pixel position). To create. The print engine 93 inputs a print image created by the imaging controller 92, and prints the document image on paper using a colorant based on the print image.

The imaging controller 92 has a document analyzer 121, renderers 123A and 123B corresponding to specific file formats A and B (eg, HTML and JPEG), and an image composer 125. Although renderers 123A and 123B corresponding to two file formats are shown in FIG. 23, these two are merely examples, and have renderers corresponding to fewer or more file formats. You may. The imaging controller 92 can be entirely realized by a microcomputer as software, or at least a part thereof can be realized by a dedicated hardware circuit.

The document analyzer 121 analyzes the received document data and recognizes what file format resource the document contains. If the document contains resources of predetermined file formats A and B, those resources are passed to the renderers 123A and 123B corresponding to the respective file formats. However, when a resource having a file format other than the file formats A and B (for example, file format C) is included, the resource is stored in the same network domain (that is, the network 170) as described later. Other existing devices (printers 101 and 102, computer 10
3, 104, etc.), a device having a renderer corresponding to the file format C is transmitted with the resource of the file format C, rendering is requested, and an image of a rendering result is received from the device.

The renderer 123A renders a resource of the file format A (for example, an HTML document),
Make the print image. The renderer 123B renders a resource of the file format B (for example, a JPEG image) to create a print image. To improve memory efficiency, the renderers 123A and 123B usually divide each page of a document into a plurality of bands, and sequentially create print images for each band. Here, the print image created by each of the renderers 123A and 123B is only a part of the corresponding resource, and therefore, neither is a complete print image of the compound document.

The image composer 125 has a renderer 1
The print image of each band created by 23A and 123B and the print image of each band requested by another device are taken in, and these are combined to create a complete print image of each band.

The print engine 93 sequentially receives the complete print image of each band created by the image composer 92 and sequentially prints each band image on paper to create a hard copy of each page.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

Here, it is assumed that a certain host computer (eg, host computer 103) on networks 160 and 170 sends document data written in HTML to printer 81. Other resources such as a JPG image and a GIF image are embedded in the HTML document data, and the HTML document data and other resources embedded therein constitute composite document data. The printer 81 performs an operation as shown in FIG.

First, in step 2301, the communication interface 91 receives the HTML document data and passes it to the imaging controller 92. Then step 2
At 302, the communication interface 91 transmits the received HT
The other resources embedded in the ML document are received and passed to the imaging controller 92.

In the imaging controller 92, as shown in step 2303, the document analyzer 121
The file format of each resource included in the received compound document is determined. Then, in step 2304, it is determined whether each of the determined file formats can be rendered by the printer 81 (that is, format A or B). . If rendering is possible, the process proceeds to step 2305; otherwise, the process proceeds to step 2308.

In step 2305, the document analyzer 121 passes the resource of the file format A or B to the renderer 123A or 123B, and the renderer 123A or 123B renders the resource to create print data in band units and store the print data in the printer. To a memory (not shown).

On the other hand, when the flow advances to step 2308, the document analyzer 121 makes a file format that cannot be rendered by the printer 81 (for example, file format C).
A device having a renderer corresponding to is searched for with reference to a device table as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 25, the devices 101, 102, 10 in the same domain as the printer 81 (that is, the internal network 170) are stored in the device table.
3, 104 on each network (eg, IP
Address) and a file format that the device can render (for example, its extension) are registered. As a result, if there is a device capable of rendering the file format C in the device table, the process proceeds to step 2310; otherwise, the process proceeds to step 2312.

When the process proceeds to step 2312, the document analyzer 121 passes an image file of a predetermined picture (for example, a picture of a frame) as a substitute for the image of the resource that cannot be rendered to the renderer 123B, and prints the image of the picture. Also create. On the other hand, when the process proceeds to step 2310, the document analyzer 121 transmits the resource of the file format C to the device selected from the device table via the network 170, and requests that the resource is rendered and returned. For example, if the file format C is G
In the case of the IF, the G
Transmit IF resources. The printer 102 has the same configuration as that shown in FIG.
And renders the GIF resource requested by the corresponding renderer with a corresponding renderer, and returns the resulting print image to the printer 81 via the network 170. Printer 8
In step 1, the document analyzer 121 receives a print image from the printer 102 in step 2311 and develops the print image in a memory for each band.

Thus, for each band of the compound document,
When rendering of all the resources included therein is completed, the process proceeds to step 2306, where the image composer 125 integrates the print image of each resource and develops the complete print data of each band on the memory. Subsequently, in step 2307, the print engine 93 takes in the complete print image and prints it on paper.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing a procedure for registering the device table shown in FIG. This operation can be performed at an appropriate timing, such as when the user instructs the printer, periodically, when starting up the printer, or the like.

First, the document analyzer 12 of the printer 81
In step 2501, for example, all the devices 101, 102, 103, and
The address of 104 is listed, and step 2502
Inquire of each of the listed devices about a file format that can be rendered by the device. If there is a response to the inquiry from the device within a certain period of time, the document analyzer 121 proceeds to step 2504, receives a notification of a file format that can be rendered from the device, and in step 2505, converts the file format to that of the device. Register in the device table corresponding to the address. This inquiry and registration are performed for all devices in the domain. As a result, a device table as shown in FIG. 25 is completed.

According to the present embodiment, the printer 81 receives and prints a compound document including a plurality of file formats by using its own renderer or the renderer of another device. be able to.

In the present embodiment, the printer 81
In step 2310 of FIG. 24, a file format C resource that cannot be rendered by itself is sent to another device to have it rendered into a print image. But,
If the other device has a converter that can convert the file format C into a file format (for example, B) that can be rendered by the printer 81, step 231
0, the device may be requested to convert the file format from C to B instead of rendering. In this case, after receiving the converted file format B resource in step 2311, the printer 81 proceeds to step 2305 as indicated by the dotted arrow, and renders the file format B resource using its own renderer 123 B. I do.

Although not shown in FIG. 22, the printer 81 naturally includes a conventional renderer that interprets data expressed in a specific printer control language and creates a print image. Therefore, when requesting the conversion of a file format to another device as described above, the data is converted into data expressed in a specific printer control language (that is, data in the same format as that received by the conventional printer from the host). Then, it may be rendered by a conventional renderer in the printer 81 and printed.

FIG. 27 is a block diagram showing an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

Network 17 Constituting a Domain
0, the printer 151 according to the present invention and other devices such as the printers 152 and 153 and the host computer 154.
Etc. are connected. The printer 151 is also connected to an external communication network 180. The printer 151 has a configuration as shown in FIG. 22, and when receiving composite document data from the communication network 180, if the specific document in the domain where the composite document is to be printed is included in the composite document. If a resource cannot be rendered, a device that can render (or convert as described above) that resource is
It has a function of searching for a device in a domain including its own device, causing the device to perform rendering ring or conversion, and transferring the resulting data to a printer that should print. To perform this function, the printer 151
Has a device table similar to that illustrated in FIG. 25, which shows the rendering capabilities of all devices in the domain including itself. With such a function, a printer server having no print function can be used in place of the printer 151.

The operation of the printer 151 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

Upon receiving the compound document data from the communication network 180 in step 2701, the printer 151, in step 2702, based on, for example, a destination address included in the compound document data, From among the printers 151, 152, and 153, a printer (for example, the printer 152) on which the composite document is to be printed is selected. Next, the printer 15
In step 2703, the selected printer 1
52, what file format can be rendered is checked with reference to a device table registered in advance,
In step 2704, it is determined whether the printer 152 can render all resources included in the compound document. As a result, if rendering is possible, the process proceeds to step 2707; otherwise, step 2705 is performed.
Proceed to.

At step 2707, the printer 151
Transfers the compound document data to the selected printer 152. On the other hand, if the processing has proceeded to step 2705, the printer 151 searches for a device capable of rendering (or converting) resources that cannot be rendered by the selected printer 152 with reference to the device table, and assigns the resource to the searched device. The printer 151 requests rendering (or conversion) by transferring (or rendering or converting by itself if the printer 151 can render or convert). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 2706, where the printer 151 transfers the resources that can be rendered by the selected printer 152 from the received compound document data to the selected printer 152, and further renders or converts the result of rendering or conversion in step 2705 to the selected printer. 152 (the result of rendering or conversion by another device may be directly transferred from another device to the selected printer 152 without passing through the printer 151). As a result, the selected printer 152 can print the composite document in full.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be implemented in other various forms.

In the above embodiment, for the sake of simplicity, the term “rendering” has been described as creating a print image (ie, a binary raster image that drives a print engine), but is not necessarily limited thereto. Not something. That is, various forms of image data such as an intermediate code, an RGB multi-value raster image, and a CMYK multi-value raster image are generated before a final print image is generated from the resource. The renderer used in the embodiment of the present invention may be any as long as it converts the resource of the compound document into some form of image data that does not depend on its own file format, and the form of the image data output from the renderer is as follows. The intermediate code, the RGB multi-value raster image, the CMYK multi-value raster image, and the like may be used in the middle. Therefore, when the printer (or the printer server) of the present invention has a certain resource rendered by another device, the rendering result does not necessarily need to be a final print image, and a printer (or printer) that performs printing. Alternatively, the image data may be in the form of an intermediate code or a multi-value raster image as long as the image data can be finally converted into a print image by the printer server.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, in order to make the description easy to understand, the term “convert” is used in addition to the term “rendering”, and this conversion is performed in a file format that cannot be supported by the printer (or printer server) of interest. Is converted to data in a format that can be supported. However, it should be noted that “rendering” in the claims of this specification has a broad meaning including not only the rendering in the embodiment but also the conversion.

In the above embodiment, the printer according to the present invention receives compound document data from the communication network, and requests other devices to render resources through the communication network. It doesn't have to go through the network. Even when the printer (or printer server) of the present invention is connected to another host computer or a device such as a printer via a serial interface cable, a parallel interface cable, or various buses, the printer of the present invention (Or a printer server) can perform substantially the same operation as the above-described embodiment.

As described above, some preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, they are for explanation of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to those embodiments. Without departing from the gist of the present invention, the embodiment described above has a specific configuration, operation, function, operation,
The present invention can also be implemented in other various forms having different effects.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating a printing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a printing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of the high-performance printer illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram illustrating a printing system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a network system using a network printer having a function of a local router according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a relay function of the network printer shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 shows an IP of the network printer shown in FIG. 6;
The figure which shows the list of addresses.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a processing procedure of a received packet performed by the network printer shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing another processing procedure of a received packet performed by the network printer shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing still another processing procedure of a received packet performed by the network printer shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing still another processing procedure of the received packet performed by the network printer shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a network-compatible print system according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a network-compatible printer investigation process shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a transfer process of the network compatible printer shown in FIG.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of a determination process shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of processing of the printer driver of the host shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 17 illustrates an example of a user interface screen of a printer driver.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a network-compatible print system according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart of processing of each printer shown in FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a block diagram illustrating variations of combinations of printers that are grouped.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating another example of the determination process.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a printer 81 shown in FIG. 22.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing processing of the printer 81 shown in FIG. 23;

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing an example of a device table stored in a memory of the printer 81 shown in FIG. 23.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing a process in which the printer shown in FIG. 22 creates the device table shown in FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 is a block diagram showing an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing processing of the printer 151 shown in FIG. 27;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Host computer 2 High function printer 3, 3A, 3B Low function printer 4 Communication network 11 Network printer 12 Internet 13, 14, 16 Non-network compatible printer 15 Host computer 17 Ethernet 18, 27 Physical layer 19, 28 Data link layer 20 Transport layer 51, 70 Network compatible printer 52, 53, 71, n, m Downstream printer 54 Host 55 Internet (network) 81, 101, 102, 151, 152, 153 Printer 91 Communication interface 92 Imaging controller 121 Document analyzer 123 renderer 125 image composer 93 print engine 103, 104, 154 host computer 160, 170, 180 Work

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (31) Priority claim number Japanese Patent Application No. 9-285069 (32) Priority date Hei 9 (1997) October 17, (33) Priority claim country Japan (JP)

Claims (85)

[Claims] 1. A proxy server for converting a first print command written in a first language into a second print command written in another second language, and the second print from the proxy server A printing system, comprising: at least one printer that receives, interprets, and prints a command. Converting a first print command written in a first language into a second print command written in another second language; and converting the converted second print command into a second print command written in another second language. Transferring to a printer capable of interpreting the second language. 3. Command conversion means for converting a first print command written in a first language into a second print command written in another second language, wherein the second language can be interpreted. A proxy server that can be connected to a printer and has a transfer unit that transfers the second print command from the command conversion unit to the printer. 4. A printer which can be connected to a host device capable of interpreting a first language and a printer capable of interpreting a second language, wherein a printer status written in the second language is transmitted from the printer. Receiving a first status message indicating
Conversion means for converting the first status message into a second status message written in the first language; and transfer means for transferring the second status message from the conversion means to the host device. Having a proxy server. 5. A printing means for interpreting and printing a first print command written in a first language, and a second printing means for writing the first print command in another second language. A printer, comprising: command conversion means for converting a command into commands; and transfer means capable of being connected to at least one printer, and transferring the second print command from the command conversion means to the connected printer. 6. The rendering means for interpreting the first print command to render at least a primitive raster image, and the command conversion means for transmitting data including the raster image from the rendering means to the second print command. 6. The printer according to claim 5, further comprising command creation means for creating the second print command by incorporating the print command into a language print command format. 7. The printer according to claim 5, further comprising: means for selecting the second language from a plurality of predetermined languages. 8. A selection means which is connectable to a plurality of printers and selects a printer to execute printing from the plurality of connected printers, and determines a language which can be interpreted by the selected printer. 6. The printer according to claim 5, further comprising: means for converting the first print command into a print command in the determined language, and transferring the print command to the selected printer. 9. The printer according to claim 5, wherein the first language is a high function language having a high image expression ability, and the second language is a low function language having a low image expression ability. 10. The printer according to claim 5, further comprising selection means for selectively operating one of said printing means and said transfer means. 11. When the first print command designates a destination printer, the selecting means activates the printing means if the destination printer is itself,
11. The printer according to claim 10, wherein the transfer unit operates when the destination printer is the connected printer. 12. A printer dedicated to monochrome printing, wherein said selecting means activates said printing means when said first print command specifies a printing color and said printing color is monochrome. 11. The printer according to claim 10, wherein said transfer means is operated when the printing color is color. 13. A step of converting a first print command written in a first language into a second print command written in another second language, and converting the converted second print command. And a process of transferring the second language to a printer capable of interpreting the second language. 14. A printer connectable to a first external device capable of interpreting a first language and a second external device capable of interpreting a second language, wherein the printer is configured to receive from the first external device. First conversion and transfer means for converting the information written in the first language into information written in a second language and transferring the information to the second external device; and receiving the information from the second external device. At least one of a second conversion and transfer unit that converts information written in a second language into information written in a first language and transfers the converted information to the first external device. Equipped printer. 15. A printer which can be connected to a host device and another printer, the printer comprising a proxy server acting as a proxy for the other printer with respect to the host device. 16. A communication that is connectable to a communication network, has a plurality of network addresses indicating a plurality of locations on the network, and is addressed to any of the plurality of network addresses coming from the network. A network communication means for responding to the message, and data included in the communication message addressed to any of the plurality of network addresses can be transferred to a plurality of predetermined destinations, and the network address of the communication message And a data transfer means for selecting a transfer destination of the data according to the following. 17. The local router according to claim 16, wherein the local router can be connected to one or more non-network-compatible devices, and the transfer destination includes the connected non-network-compatible device. 18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said device is a printer.
Local router as described. 19. The network uses a TCP / IP protocol, and the network communication means has a plurality of IP addresses, a plurality of port numbers, or a plurality of discriminators as the plurality of network addresses. Responding to a packet containing any one of the plurality of IP addresses, port numbers, or discriminators arriving from the network, wherein the data transfer means responds to any of the plurality of IP addresses, port numbers, or discriminators Said I in a packet containing
19. The transfer destination of data in the packet is selected according to a P address, a port number, or a discriminator.
A local router according to any one of the preceding claims. 20. Responding to a communication message destined for any of a plurality of predetermined network addresses arriving from a communication network, wherein said communication message is addressed to any of said plurality of network addresses. Selecting a transfer destination of the data in the communication message according to a network address. 21. A communication message connectable to a communication network, having a plurality of network addresses indicating a plurality of locations on said network, and destined for any of said plurality of network addresses coming from said network. Network communication means for responding to the communication message, and transferring data included in a communication message addressed to any of the plurality of network addresses to a plurality of transfer destinations;
A data transfer unit that selects whether to transfer the data to a transfer destination according to an address; a printing unit that processes the data and executes printing as at least one of the plurality of transfer destinations; As at least one of the other destinations,
A network printer comprising: means for connecting to a non-network-compatible device. 22. The network printer according to claim 21, wherein said device is another printer. 23. A network printer which can be connected to a communication network and can communicate with a host on the network. All the network printers which can be connected to other devices and are assigned to a device group including the self and the other devices. Relaying communication between the host and a plurality of devices belonging to the device group in response to a communication from the host including any of the network addresses of the devices belonging to the device group from the host; Network printer with means for doing so. 24. A network printer which can be connected to a communication network and can communicate with a host on the network, wherein the printer receives a print request from the host via the network and processes the received print request in a plurality of modes. A network printer comprising means for selecting a mode of processing the received print request in accordance with the content of the received print request. 25. Responding to a communication message destined for any one of a plurality of predetermined network addresses arriving from a communication network, wherein said communication message is addressed to any one of said plurality of network addresses. Selecting a transfer destination of the data in the communication message according to a network address. A computer-readable program recording medium carrying a computer program for causing a computer to execute the local router relay method. 26. A network printer connectable to a communication network, comprising: a plurality of network addresses indicating a plurality of locations on the network; and any one of the plurality of network addresses coming from the network. A network communication means for responding to a communication message addressed to the network; a network included in the communication message addressed to any one of the plurality of network addresses;・
Data transfer means for selecting whether to transfer the data to a transfer destination in accordance with an address, as at least one of the plurality of transfer destinations, print processing means for executing a process for printing the data,
And a computer-readable program recording medium carrying a computer program for causing a computer to function as means for connecting to a non-network-compatible device as at least one of the plurality of transfer destinations. 27. In a network printer that can connect to a communication network, can communicate with a host on the network, and can connect to another device, all devices assigned to itself and the device group including the other device. Communication between a host and a plurality of devices belonging to the device group in response to a communication having a network address and including any one of all network addresses of the devices belonging to the device group from the host. A computer-readable program recording medium carrying a computer program for causing a computer to function as means for relaying a program. 28. A network printer which can be connected to a communication network and can communicate with a host on the network, receives a print request from the host via the network, and processes the received print request in a plurality of modes. A computer-readable program recording medium carrying a computer program for causing a computer to function as means for selecting a mode of processing the received print request in accordance with the content of the received print request. 29. A host connection unit for connecting to a host, a printer connection unit for connecting to another printer, and a transfer unit for transferring print job data received from the host to the other connected printer. And a printer with. 30. The printer according to claim 28, wherein said host connecting means includes a network connecting means for connecting to a network and communicating with a host on said network. 31. The apparatus according to claim 29, further comprising performance checking means for checking the performance of the other connected printer.
0. The printer according to any one of 0. 32. The printer according to claim 31, further comprising performance notifying means for notifying the host of the performance of the other printer investigated by the performance investigating means and its own performance. 33. Whether print job data from the host is transferred to the other printer or processed by itself based on the performance of the other printer investigated by the performance investigating unit and its own performance. 32. The printer according to claim 31, further comprising: a determination unit configured to determine the condition. 34. Process of print job data from the host from within a printer group consisting of the other printer and itself based on the performance of the other printer investigated by the performance examination unit and its own performance. One suitable for
32. The printer according to claim 31, further comprising a selection unit that selects one of the printers, wherein the transfer unit transfers the print job data to another printer selected from the other printers. 35. The printer according to claim 29, wherein the transfer unit transfers the print job data to a printer specified by the host. 36. A printer which is optionally attachable to a printer having host connection means for connecting to a host, the printer connection means for connecting to another printer, and a print job received from the host. Transfer means for transferring data to another connected printer. 37. The option according to claim 36, further comprising network connection means for connecting to a network and communicating with a host on the network. 38. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a performance checking unit for checking and storing the performance of the other connected printer.
An optional product according to any one of items 6 and 37. 39. Host connection means for connecting to a host, printer connection means for connecting to a printer, and transfer means for transferring print job data received from the host to the connected printer. Printer management device. 40. The printer management apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the host connection unit includes a network connection unit for connecting to a network and communicating with a host on the network. 41. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a performance checking means for checking and storing the performance of the other connected printer.
41. The printer management device according to any one of items 9 and 40. 42. An upstream connection means for connecting to an upstream device which may be a host or another printer; a downstream connection means for connecting to a downstream device which may be another printer; A transfer unit for transferring the received print job data to the downstream device. 43. The printer according to claim 42, further comprising performance checking means for checking the performance of said downstream device. 44. The printer according to claim 43, further comprising performance notifying means for notifying the upstream device of the performance of the downstream device and the performance of the downstream device checked by the performance checking unit. 45. Whether the print job data from the upstream apparatus is transferred to the downstream apparatus or processed by itself based on the performance of the other printer investigated by the performance examination unit and its own performance. 47. The printer according to claim 44, further comprising a determination unit configured to determine the condition. 46. A step of connecting another printer to the first printer to form a printer group; a step of receiving print job data from a host to the first printer; Transferring from the first printer to one of the printers in the printer group. 47. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of connecting the first printer to the host via a network.
6. The printer operating method according to 6. 48. The method according to claim 46, further comprising the step of the first printer examining the performance of the other printer. 49. A printer comprising: a step of receiving print job data from a host in a computer in a printer connectable to another printer; and a step of transferring the received print job data to the other printer. A computer-readable recording medium carrying a computer program for executing an operation method. 50. The recording medium according to claim 49, wherein said printer operating method further comprises a step of connecting to said host via a network. 51. The printer operating method further comprising the step of examining the performance of the other printer.
51. The printer operation method according to claim 50. 52. A printer group comprising a first printer and another printer connected thereto, and a host equipped with a printer driver for the first printer, wherein the first printer receives a print job from the host. A print system comprising: a receiving unit that receives data; and a transfer unit that transfers the received print job data to any one of the printers in the printer group. 53. The printing system according to claim 52, wherein said first printer and said host further comprise network connection means for connecting to a network. 54. The print system according to claim 52, wherein said first printer further comprises performance checking means for checking the performance of said another printer. 55. A means for issuing a performance notification request to a printer; a means for receiving a performance notification request from the printer, creating and displaying a user interface screen corresponding to the notified performance; Means for transmitting data specifying a set value selected by the user to the printer. 56. A means for issuing a performance notification request to a printer, a means for receiving a performance notification request from the printer, creating and displaying a user interface screen corresponding to the notified performance, and A computer-readable recording medium carrying a computer program for causing a computer to function as a printer driver including means for transmitting data specifying a setting value selected by a user to the printer. 57. A compound document means for receiving or generating compound document data, a file format corresponding to each of a plurality of predetermined file formats, and a file format corresponding to each of the resources included in the compound document data. A printer comprising: a plurality of renderers for rendering resources; an image composer for integrating rendering results of the plurality of renderers to create a final print image; and a print engine for printing the print image. 58. A communication interface for communicably connecting to one or more other devices, wherein the compound document means receives the decrypted document data from any other device through the communication interface. 58. The printer according to claim 57, wherein the printer is capable of. 59. The communication interface includes means for connecting to a predetermined communication network.
The printer described. 60. A file format of a resource included in the compound document data is identified, and when an unsupported file format that is not supported by any of the renderers is included, the resource of the unsupported file format is 59. A document analyzer further comprising a document analyzer for transferring to a selected one of the devices and requesting rendering, and receiving the result of the rendering from the selected device and passing the result to the image composer or the renderer. And 59
A printer according to any one of the preceding claims. 61. Device which has device information indicating a file format that can be rendered by the other device, and wherein the document analyzer refers to the device information and transfers the resource in the non-compliant file format. 61. The printer according to claim 60, wherein the printer is selected. 62. The printer according to claim 61, further comprising means for creating the device information. 63. If the compound document data includes a non-supported file format that none of the renderers support, the image composer leaves the resource location of the non-supported file format blank or 58. The printer according to claim 57, wherein a final print image is created in place of the substitute image. 64. The plurality of renderers render only resources in a file format specified by a user among resources included in the compound document data.
7. The printer according to 7. 65. A communication interface communicably connected to one or more other devices, compound document means for receiving or generating compound document data, and identifying a file format of a resource included in the compound document data. A document analyzer for transferring at least one file format resource to a selected device among the other devices, requesting rendering, and receiving a result of the rendering from the selected device; and a rendering result. A printer comprising: an image composer for creating a final print image from a print engine; and a print engine for printing the print image. 66. The communication interface according to claim 65, further comprising means for connecting to a predetermined communication network.
Printer. 67. A renderer corresponding to a predetermined file format, wherein the document analyzer passes, to the renderer, resources of a file format supported by the renderer among resources included in the compound document data, 67. The printer according to any one of claims 65 and 66, wherein a resource in a file format that the renderer does not support is transferred to the selected device. 68. The document analyzer having device information indicating a file format that can be rendered by the other device, wherein the document analyzer refers to the device information and selects a device to which the resource is to be transferred. 67. The printer according to any one of 65 and 66. 69. The printer according to claim 68, further comprising means for creating the device information. 70. If the compound document data includes a non-compliant file format that neither the device itself nor the other device can render, the image composer blanks out the resource location of the non-compliant file format. 67. The printer according to any one of claims 65 and 66, wherein a final print image is created in place of or in place of a predetermined substitute image. 71. The document analyzer according to any one of 65 and 66, wherein the document analyzer performs processing to render only a resource in a file format designated by a user among the resources included in the compound document data by the own printer or the other device. A printer according to one of the preceding claims. 72. A communication interface communicably connected to another device including one or more printers, compound document means for receiving or generating compound document data, and a printer for printing the compound document data. Means for selecting from among the devices, and identifying a file format of a resource included in the compound document data, transferring a resource in a file format that can be rendered by the selected printer to the selected printer, and A printer server, comprising: a document analyzer that supplies a result of rendering a resource in a file format that cannot be rendered by the selected printer to the selected printer. 73. The communication interface includes means for connecting to a predetermined communication network.
The printer described. 74. The document analyzer transfers a resource of the non-renderable file format to a selected one of the other devices to request rendering, and then performs the rendering of the rendering from the selected device. 74. The printer server according to claim 72, wherein the printer server receives the result and transfers the result to the selected printer. 75. The document analyzer transfers the non-renderable file format resource to a selected one of the other devices, and renders the resource and renders a rendering result to the selected printer. 74. The printer server according to claim 72, wherein the printer server requests transmission. 76. A renderer corresponding to a predetermined file format, wherein the document analyzer passes resources of the file format supported by the renderer among the resources included in the compound document data to the renderer, 73. The printer server according to claim 71, wherein a resource in a file format that is not supported by the renderer is transferred to the selected device. 77. The document analyzer having device information indicating a file format that can be rendered by the other device, wherein the document analyzer refers to the device information and selects a device to which the resource is to be transferred. 74. The printer server according to any one of 72 and 73. 78. The printer server according to claim 77, further comprising means for creating the device information. 79. The printer according to claim 72, further comprising: an image composer that creates a final print image from the rendering result; and a print engine that prints the print image. Printer server. 80. A compound document means comprising: a plurality of devices communicatively connected, including one or more printers, wherein at least one of the devices receives or generates compound document data; For each of a plurality of predetermined file formats, among the resources included in the compound document data, a plurality of renderers each of which renders a resource of a corresponding file format, and a rendering result of the plurality of renderers. A printing system, comprising: an image composer that integrates to create a final print image; and a print engine that prints the print image. 81. A compound document means comprising: a plurality of devices communicatively connected, including one or more printers, wherein at least one of the devices receives or generates compound document data; Identify the file format of the resource included in the compound document data, transfer the resource of at least one file format to a selected device among the other devices, request rendering, and, A printing system comprising: a document analyzer that receives a result of the rendering from a device; an image composer that creates a final print image from the render result; and a print engine that prints the print image. 82. A system comprising: a plurality of devices including one or more printers communicably connected; at least one of said devices receiving or generating compound document data; and Means for selecting a printer to print the document data from among the other devices; identifying a file format of a resource included in the compound document data; and selecting a resource in a file format that can be rendered by the selected printer. And a document analyzer that transfers a resource in a file format that cannot be rendered by the selected printer to the selected printer, and supplies a result of rendering the resource to the selected printer. 83. A computer in the printer, comprising: a compound document unit for receiving or generating compound document data; and a resource included in the compound document data corresponding to each of a plurality of predetermined file formats. A computer-readable recording medium carrying a plurality of renderers for rendering a resource in a corresponding file format and a computer program for functioning as a renderer. 84. A computer in a printer capable of communicating with one or more other devices, a compound document means for receiving or generating compound document data, a file format of a resource included in the compound document data, Functioning as a document analyzer that transfers at least one file format resource to a selected device among the other devices, requests rendering, and receives a result of the rendering from the selected device; A computer-readable recording medium carrying a computer program for causing a computer to execute the program. 85. A computer capable of communicating with another device including one or more printers, a compound document means for receiving or generating compound document data, a printer for printing the compound document data, Means for selecting from among: a file format of a resource included in the compound document data; transferring a resource in a file format that can be rendered by the selected printer to the selected printer; and A computer-readable recording medium carrying a computer program for functioning as a document analyzer that supplies a result of rendering a file format resource that cannot be rendered by a printer to the selected printer.